Monitoring platform for wound and ulcer monitoring and detection

Abstract

Systems and techniques for monitoring hydration. In one implementation, a method includes measuring an electrical impedance of a region of a subject to generate an impedance measurement result, and wirelessly transmitting the data to a remote apparatus. The probe with which impedance is measured may in the form of a patch adhesively secured to the subject.

1 . A method of monitoring a wound, said method comprising measuring electrical impedance of tissue proximate to the wound at two or more times during wound healing. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising connecting two or more electrodes to skin surfaces proximate to said wound. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the electrodes are an integral part of a wound dressing. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising comparing electrical impedance measurements obtained at different times. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising performing a therapeutic treatment or action on said wound in response to one or more impedance measurements. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising communicating information related to measured wound status to one or both a patient with said wound and medical personnel. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sensing skin temperature proximate to said wound. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sensing heat flux from skin proximate to said wound. 
     
     
         9 . A wound dressing comprising:
 an absorbent material adapted to absorb wound exudate, and   a plurality of electrodes situated to apply an electric current and/or voltage to tissue proximate to said wound.   
     
     
         10 . The wound dressing of  claim 9 , wherein said dressing additionally comprises circuitry configured to supply current through said tissue via at least two of said electrodes. 
     
     
         11 . The wound dressing of  claim 10 , wherein said dressing additionally comprises circuitry configured to measure voltage across at least two of said electrodes. 
     
     
         12 . The wound dressing of  claim 9 , wherein said dressing additionally comprises a wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         13 . The wound dressing of  claim 9 , wherein said dressing additionally comprises a device and/or a pharmaceutical compound or agent to enhance healing or inhibit infection. 
     
     
         14 . The wound dressing of  claim 8 , wherein said dressing additionally comprises one or more temperature sensors. 
     
     
         15 . A method of reducing incidence of pressure wounds in a patient comprising detecting susceptibility to pressure wounds by measuring electrical impedance of a region of the body of said patient. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising initiating treatment in response to said measuring. 
     
     
         17 . A method of reducing incidence of cutaneous ulcers in a patient comprising detecting susceptibility to cutaneous ulcers by measuring electrical impedance of a region of the body of said patient. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , additionally comprising initiating treatment in response to said measuring. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said patient is diabetic. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said region comprises one or both lower legs of said patient.